Agrivoltaics: Powering Sustainable Agriculture with Solar

Farming and energy have been connected since the agricultural revolution, evolving from animal power to fossil fuels, and now renewables. However, solar energy’s rapid expansion often competes with farmland and food production, threatening agricultural communities. Agrivoltaics—a dual-use approach combining farming with solar—offers a promising solution by providing transition financing, higher lease payments, and income stability, particularly for organic and beginning farmers.

This workshop offers a farmer’s perspective on agrivoltaics, starting with an overview of system types: crop-integrated models, pollinator habitats, and livestock integration. It will explore design, implementation, regulations, and key considerations such as crop productivity, yield impacts, animal welfare, and equipment access, while also addressing synergies and challenges specific to organic agriculture.

The second part of the workshop will focus on practical insights from Sprout City Farm, an organic agrivoltaic CSA farm in Colorado where the agrivoltaics model was successfully implemented. Liza, the presenter and a devout proponent of organic agriculture, played a key role in launching and managing the farm, overseeing everything from the first planting season to marketing strategies and logistics. She will provide a transparent overview, sharing both successes and challenges, along with key lessons learned. Her presentation will cover practical aspects such as crop rotations, soil fertility management, and equipment use, from her time at the farm, offering an experience-driven perspective.